About

What''s it all about

Basically hashing is a form of non-competitive cross-country running with the main objective of working up a decent thirst. Great emphasis is placed on the social aspects - particularly the communal boozing session at the aprés-hash. If you have half a mind to join the Hash, that's all it takes

The HOUNDS (that's you and the rest of the loonies) set off along a clearly defined trail (blobs of flour – usually to your right) with the front runners calling "ON - ON" for the benefit of the slower runners and latecomers catching up.

Every 1000 metres or so the trail will end signified by a circle with a cross in it. This is known as a CHECK and the frontrunners on reaching the check start searching for the new trail. This can start up to 50 metres from the check in any direction. The time taken by the frontrunners to find the new trail allows the runners at the back (the "social or chat-pack") to catch up thus increasing the chances of everyone reaching the end at roughly the same time.

The frontrunners will usually find that the cunning hares have laid some FALSE TRAILs in addition to the real trail - these falsies usually consist of up to 2 blobs followed by an “T”. This ensures that the really fit types, known as FRBs (Front Running Bastards) will become exhausted more quickly and be forced to join the social pack. Another device used by Hares to achieve the same objective is the LOOP whereby the trail might go round 3 sides of a field allowing the back markers to run across the fourth. Hash runs are usually 5 - 8 Km long and are designed to last 1 hour.

The Aprés Hash event is known as the CIRCLE which is presided over by theRELIGIOUS ADVISOR (R.A.). This is mainly a good excuse to haul out selected individuals and punish or reward them for things they may or may not have done on the trail. This takes the form of a DOWNER but we wouldn't want to spoil the surprise so we'll draw a veil over the proceedings at this stage. Apart from this, everyone has a jolly nice sing-song and drinks loads of beer.